Exeter Science Park

Vision:

The development of a world class Science Park is a significant element of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point.

Exeter Science Park is a great place to begin the next phase in developing your ideas and growing your business. They have created the foundation for a park which will cater for the full spectrum of organisation size – from 'start-ups' and 'spin outs', second stage funded companies through to the largest multinational organisations.

The Park is set to be the corner-stone of a knowledge-based economy which is currently achieving unprecedented growth rates. The Exeter and East Devon area is home to numerous knowledge-based businesses and has benefitted from tremendous investment in start-ups and in research & development across a range of science technology, medicine and engineering fields.

The Science Park is playing a key role in helping to diversify and reinforce the economy of Exeter and East Devon through the development of knowledge-based businesses and capitalising on links with the technology base provided by the University of Exeter (and explicitly including Medical School) and the Met Office.

To keep up to date with the development you can now sign up to a newsletter by visiting the Exeter Science Park website or follow the project on Twitter @ExeterSciencePk

Tenants:

There are currenty, two occupied buildings on Science Park. The Science Park Centre, Eagle House with a third, the Met Office’s High Performance Computer (HPC) complex, which will house part of the new Met Office supercomputer is currently under construction. In August 2016, there are around 20 companies and organisations trading from the park.

Predicted investment value:

Expected date of completion:

Job creation:

Current land owners:

Partnership:

Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council, Devon County Council and the University of Exeter.

The Exeter Science Park Company was formally incorporated in May 2010

Background

Exeter Science Park is a partnership between Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, the Met Office, South West Regional Development Agency and the University of Exeter.

The Exeter Science Park Company was formally incorporated in May 2010. The Company is chaired by Professor Sir William Wakeham to lead the Strategic direction for the Science Park.

Infrastructure

The South West RDA provided grant funding of £19 million to Devon County Council to purchase the 26 hectare site from Eagle One and develop the infrastructure for the Science Park. As well as providing a site for the Exeter Science Park, the purchase of the land from also includes land needed for major improvements to the M5 Junction 29, which will unlock the full potential of the whole Growth Point Area.

Community Infrastructure Funding (CIF) of £5 million was granted to develop a sustainable transport infrastructure to the area and provide access routes into the city centre. This includes the construction of the cycle and pedestrian bridge across the M5 directly into the Science Park and for the roads and transport infrastructure for the northern section of the Science Park.

Phase One

Eagle One has the development rights to develop Phase One of the Science Park. The rest of the site will be opened up through an OJEU tender for a developer.

Phase One will include provision of a business hotel and conference centre, a management suite for Eagle One (10,000 sq ft), and a Science Park Centre (circa 30,000 sq ft) which will act as the hub for the development, the funding partners for which are not currently in place.

Planning conditions stipulate that buildings must carry BREEAM excellent certification and occupiers must meet a Gateway Criteria which reflects the UK Science Park Association definition of a Science Park.